Container filling method and machine



y 1965 R. w. VERGOBBI ETAL 3,182,691

CONTAINER FILLING METHOD AND MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 12.1961 W, .Mn m mo mom w jflm Mwwzm ZJM $4. EMM? May 11, 1965 R. w.VERGOBBI ETAL 3,182,591

CONTAINER FILLING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed Oct. 12. 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet2 IN V EN TORS. 06614 BY lfax 7068/ M// 1/n Passe/ K 414 {021.14 GM 14TIDE YE Y May 11, 1965 R. w. VERGOBBI ETAL 3,182,691

CONTAINER FILLING METHOD MACHINE Filed Oct. 12. 1961 7 Sheets-$heet 3I76 @ZQMeAeM May 11, 1965 R. w. VERGOBBI ETAL CONTAINER FILLING METHODAND MACHINE Filed Oct. 12. 1961 7 Sheets-Sheqt 4 IN V EN TORS.

May 11, 1965 R. w. VERGOBBI ETAL 3,132,691

CONTAINER FILLING METHOD AND MACHINE I Filed Oct. 12. 1 961 7Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TORS,

May 11, 1965 R. w. VERGOBBI ETAL CONTAINER FILLING METHOD AND MACHINESheets-Sheet 7 Filed Oct. 12. 1961 mm 0mm WW with .1 {f E n- W M Y m; wM M72 mV e fl Z w v.// 2% Y B United States Patent 3,1825% QONTAWERFILLING METHQD AND MACHiNE Robert W. Vergohhi, Quincy, Max Knohel,Boston, and Wiiliarn 1-1. 'Irusseiie, Braintree, Mass, assignors toPneumatic Scale Corporation, Limited, Quincy, Mass, a corporation ofMassachusetts Filed Get. 12, 1961, Ser. No. 14%623; '29 Claims. (Cl.141-5) This invention relates to a container filling machine.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improvedcontainer filling machine of the gravity or pressure feed type whereinthe mouth of the container is open to the atmosphere during the fillingoperation and which is characterized by novel and eificient structureenabling rapid and accurate filling performance.

The invention has for a further object to provide a novel and improvedcontainer filling machine of the character specified having novelfilling mechanism and novel control means associated therewithresponsive to the liquid when it reaches a predetermined filling levelfor discontinuing the flow of liquid into the container whereby toprovide accurate and uniform filling heights in successive containers.

With these general objects in view and such others as may hereinafterappear, the invention consists in the container filling machine and inthe various structures, arrangements and combinations of partshereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the endof this specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross section of a container filling machineembodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a detail view in front elevation showing two 1 filling headunits in different positions of operation, some of the parts being shownin cross section.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a filling head unit, some of the partsbeing shown in cross section;

FIG. 4 is a cross section detail view of a filling head shown in itsopen or filling position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the filling head in itsclosed position;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of pneumatic control means to be referredto;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional detail view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;and

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the filling machine shown in FIG. 1.

In general the present invention contemplates a novel and improvedliquid filling machine of the gravity or pressure feed type wherein thefilling nozzleis introduced into the open mouth of the container withoutsealing engagement therewith. The present filling machine includes afilling head unit having a liquid control valve and novel control meansresponsive to the height of the liquid when it reaches a predeterminedlevel in the container for closing the valve to discontinue the flow ofliquid into the container in a manner such as to accurately control thefilling level in successive containers.

In accordance with the present invention the control means includesprovision for introducing air at a relatively low pressure, in the orderof two inches of water pressure for example, into the container duringthe filling operation, such air being permitted to escape to theatmosphere through the mouth of the container, and when the fillinglevel of the liquid being introduced into the container reaches a heightsuch as to block the outlet of the low pressure air line a back pressureis created therein which is arranged to actuate pneumatically operatedcontrol means to close the liquid dispensing valve and discontinue theflow of liquid into the container.

Patented May 11 1965 ice The present control device wherein low pressureair is introduced into the open mouth of the container during thefilling operation to provide a back pressure when the outlet of the airline is closed by the liquid reaching a predetermined filling levelprovides a positive and rapidly operating sensing device wherebyaccurate filling levels may be maintained in successive containers. Thepresent filling machine may be used with advantage for filling any typeof container, such as glass or metal containers, and is of particularadvantage for filling plastic or other relatively non-rigid containerswhere a seal against the mouth of a container is difiicult to effect orwhere the pressure required to make such a seal, as in vacuum filling,would be prohibitive because the relatively non-rigid container wouldcollapse or distort in a manner such as to break the seal or result innon-uniform filling heights. Also, in vacuum filling the filling heightis determined relative to the top or mouth of the bottle so that if somecontainers in the same lot vary in height the quantity or volume ofliquid delivered to the container will vary. The present gravity orpressure feed type of filler is arranged to determine the filling heightrelative to the bottom of the container so as to obtain substantiallyuniform volumes of liquid in successive containers regardless ofvariations in the height thereof.

Another advantage in the use of the present liquid filling machine isthat the flow of liquid is cut off when the liquid reaches apredetermined level so that there is no overflow or surplus liquid to bereturned to the supply. This feature is of particular advantage withcertain products which may deteriorate in quality when subjected torecirculation so that they cannot be returned to the supply withoutreprocessing.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, in general thepresent invention is illustrated as embodied in a rotary bottle fillingmachine of the type illustrated and described in the United Statespatent to A. C. Everett, No. 2,136,421, issued November 15, 1938,wherein a plurality of elevating platforms 12 are mounted to move in acircular path and to which successive bottles 14 to be filled aretransferred by a transfer spider 13 from an intake conveyor 15. Duringcontinuous rotation in a circular path the platforms 12 are arranged tobe elevated to present the bottles in operative relation to theirrespective filling heads indicated generally at 16, the filling nozzles18 thereof extending into the mouths of the bottles as shown. Uponcompletion of the filling operation the elevating platforms 12 are againlowered to a transfer level, and the filled bottles are transferred by adischarge spider 19 onto a discharge conveyor 21 to be delivered fromthe machine.

As further illustrated in FIG. 1, each elevating platform 12 is securedto a head bracket 20 having a depending skirt portion and is mounted onthe upper end of a vertical rod 22, square in cross section for aportion of its length, and slidably received in a bearing member 24secured in the upper end of a tubular member 26 over which the skirtportion is slidably mounted. The tubular member 26 is supportedintermediate its ends in a rotatable conically shaped supporting member28 as shown. The lower end of the rod 22 is cylindrical in cross sectionand is provided with a slide bearing 33 having a lateral extensionoperating in a slot in the tubular member 26 and which carries a camroll 32 arranged to cooperate with the upper edge of a stationary cam 34supported from the base 38 of the machine. The rotatable supportingmember 28 is provided at its lower end with a large diameter ring gear40 in mesh with a drive pinion 42 mounted on the output shaft of a speedreducer forming a part of the motor drive indicated generally in dottedlines at 44. The upper end of the cone is provided with an opening inwhich a ro- .FIG. 4.

tatable sleeve :6 is slidably received, the lower end of the sleevebeing supported for rotation .and for vertical slid-ing movement in astationary sleeve bracket 48. The sleeve bracket 48 is secured to theupper end of a ring bracket 64- supported from the base 33. The ringbracket 64 is provided with rollers 65 for cooperation with an annularbearing element 66 carried by the rotatable supporting member 23 forsupporting the weight thereof during rotation. The central sleeve 46 issecured at its upper end to a rotary supporting disk t), and the latteris supported for rotation with the supporting member 28 by verticallyextended tie rod units 63. The tie rod units as may 'beadjustedvertically through mechanism including chain and sprocket connections69, bevel gears '70 and hand wheel 72 so as to enable adjustment of theheight of the supporting disk 58) relative to the elevating platforms 12for different heights of bottles. It will be observed that the centralsleeve 46 carried by the supporting disk 50 may slide in the stationarybearing member 48 and through the central opening in the rotatablemember 23 during such adjustment.

The filling head units 16 are carried by and rotatable with the rotarysupporting disk 5%), and each filling head unit has associated therewitha. pneumatic control unit indicated generally at 52 supported above itsfilling head. Each control unit 52 is enclosed in a housing 54, and thehousings are supported upon an annular plate 56 carried by vertical tierods 53 extended from the rotary supporting disk 59 as shown. Eachcontrol unit 52 ineludes a pneumatically operated cylinder 60 having apiston 62 arranged to-cooperate with its filling head uni-t 16 tocontrol the flow of liquid into the bottle.

The filling head units 16 are arranged in circumferentially spacedrelation and in vertical alignment with their respective elevatingplatforms 12 and the bottles 14 carried thereby and, as shown in detailin FIGS. 4 and 5,-each filling head-unit 16 comprises a hollowcylindrical nozzle block 80 providing a chamber 82 having an inlet 84. Anipple 86 connects the chamber inlet with a liquid supply conduit 88having an O-ring seal connection 39, and each hollow nozzle block 86 issupported by an individual bracket 9b which is secured to the rotarysupporting disk 59. The lower end'of the nozzle-block 80 is providedwitha hollow nozzle carrying portion 92 threadedly secured thereto andsealed by an O-ring 94, the hollow portion as providing a chamber 96 incommunication with the chamber 82. The lower end'of the portion 92 istapered downwardly, as shown, and the nozzle 18, which may be elongatedand tubular, is fitted into a bore in the lower end of the portion 92.The upper end of the nozzle block 30 is provided with an adapter 98threadedly secured thereto and sealed by an O-ring 100. The adapter 98forms a bearing for the stem 1&2 of a vertically movable liquid controlvalve 104. The valve 1% comprises an enlarged diameter portion 166 ofthe stem and is provided with an O-ring 108 engaged in a peripheralgroove formed in the enlarged portion. The valve 164 is freely movablein the chamber 96 and is shown in its open position in In operation,when the valve is moved upwardly the enlarged diameter portion 1% andthe O-ring enter into sealing engagement with the walls of the chamber82 to cut off the flow of liquid into the nozzle as shown in FIG. 5. Theenlarged diameter portion 106 is also provided with a shoulder 110 whichengages with a lower surface of the nozzle block 8% when the valve isclosed to limit the upward movement of the same. A relatively heavy coilpring 112 interposed between the upper surface of the nozzle block and acollar 114 carried by the upper portion of the stem 1&2 is arranged tourge the valve 164 upwardly into its closed position. As shown in FIGS.4 and 5, the collar 114 is retained on the stem 162 by a snap ring 116.

The lower end of the valve 1% is tapered downwardly and is provided witha relatively small diameter tubular 4.- extension or air nozzle 118carried by an adapter 12% threadedly secured and sealed to the lower endof the valve 1%. The upper end of the air nozzle 118 communicates with acentral passageway 122 formed in the valve stem 102, and the upper endof the passageway 122 is connected through a side wall opening to aflexible low pressure air line 24 by a nipple 126 as shown. The otherend of the low pressure air line 124 is connected to a pipe T 125, seeFIG. 3, having communi cation with the pneumatic control unit 52, the T125 being also connected by a low pressure air supply pipe 27 as shown.The lower end of the air nozzle 118 is open to the atmosphere providingan outlet 129. As illustrated, the small diameter air nozzle 118 extendsinto the liquid nozzle 18 providing an annular space therebetween andhas secured to its lower end an upstanding tubular portion 128 closed atits lower end except for the outlet 129 and which comprises a liquidnozzle valve of a diameter such as to be telescopically fitted into thelower end of the liquid nozzle 18. The tubular portion 128 is providedwith a plurality ofliquid escape openings 130 in the wall thereof. Inoperation when the control valve 104 is moved downwardlyto its openposition, as shown in FIG. 4, the tubular portion 128 is telescopicallyextended from the lower end of the nozzle 18 to expose the openings andpermit the liquid to flow into the container. Conversely, when the valve104 is moved upwardly to its closed position, as shown in FIG. 5, thetubular portion 123 will be drawn upwardly within the nozzle 18 to closethe liquid escape openings 13% and thus terminate the flow into thecontainer. It will be observed that there-is no communication in thefilling head between the liquid nozzle 18 and the outlet 129 of the lowpressure air nozzle 118. In operation any liquid remaining in thefilling head and nozzle 13 between the valve 1% and the valve 128 issuspended therein until the next filling cycle. It will also be observedthat the action of the valve 104 in cutting off the flow of liquid issuch as to create a suction in the nozzle 18 when the O-ring sealingmember 1428 is drawn upwardly into engagement with the walls of thechamber 32 to assist in retaining the liquid in the nozzle insuspension.

The liquid supply conduit 88, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 8, is radiallyextended from a central liquid distributing manifold 132 from whichsimilar conduits 88 extend to each filling head unit. The liquiddistributing manifold 132 is mounted on and rotatable with the rotarysupporting disk 50 on which the fiilling head units 16 are mounted. Acentral depending pipe 134 connected to and in communication with theliquid manifold chamber is telescopically and rotatably received in acentral stationary upstanding pipe 136, the upper end of the pipe 136being provided with a suitable packing bearing 138 in sealing engagementwith the outer surface of the depending pipe 134- to permit verticaladjustment of the supporting disk 50. The lower end of the centralstationary pipe 13a is connected to the upper end of a hollow adapter140 secured in the base member 38 adjacent the lower end of the machine.The adapter 140 extends through the base member, and a supply pipe 144connected to a side opening of the adapter extends horizontally and thenupwardly to a supply tank 14 6 supported in a raised position by abracket 142 attached to a post 147. The post 14 7 is supported by abracket 14% attached to the base 38 of the machine. In operation theliquid may flow from the tank by gravity to the distritbuting manifoldand to the various filling heads or the supply tank may be pressurized,if desired, to effect a faster delivery of the liquid to the fillingheads and into the bottles.

In operation a continuous line of containers, such as bottles 14, on theintake conveyer 15 are transferred onto successive elevating platforms12 by the transfer spider 13. During the continuous movement of theplatform in a rotary path it is elevated to present the bottle intooperative filling position with its nozle 18 extended into the which maybe clamped to the nozzle block dyby clamp brackets 81 which areadjustably secured to the bracket 90 by bolts 91 as shown. As'the bottlemoves upwardly the rods 158 slide, upwardly in their bearings, and whenthe platforms are subsequently lowered the nozzle guide and its sliderods moves downwardlyby gravity. The upper ends of the rods areprovided'jwith collars 162 which engage the upper surfaces of theirbearing members 161) to limit the downward movement thereof. Provisionis made for preventing operation of the pneumatic control unit 52 in theevent that no bottle is present 'on the'platform 12 when itis elevatedso as to prevent opening of the liquid control valve 104 at such time.For this purpose the pneumatic control unit is provided with a highpressure air circuit having an air escape orifice 164 formed in a block166 mounted in theannular plate 56. In operation, when thebottle iselevated to engage the tion relative to the filling nozzle 18, provisionis made nozzle guide and to be moved into operative filling posiforclosing the air escape orifice to'render'operative the normallyinoperative pneumatic control unit 52.

' As herein shown, one of the slide rods 158 carries at its upper end anupwardly spring pressed pin 162 which extends beyond the upper end ofits rod and is provided at its tip with a resilientjsealing member 171111 The sealing member 170 is arranged to cooperate with the air escapeorifice 164 when the bottle is elevated into'filling positionto cut offthe escape of air therefrom so as to render thelcontrol unit operative.However, when no bottle is present the nozzle guide will not beelevated, and the orifice 164 will remain open to prevent initiation ofa filling cycle. In operation when the orifice 164 is sealed the controlunit 52 is arranged to permit high prescure air to fiow to the cylinder60 to vforce its piston 62 outwardly into engagement with the upper endof the valve stern .102 to open the control valve 104 and initiate thefilling operation.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 6, in general the pneumatically operatedcontrol unit 52 includes a trip valve 172 arranged tobe momentarilyactuated to operate the control ,means when a bottle is in position tobe filled; a shuttle type valve 174 arranged to be shifted uponoperation of thetrip valve 172 to'permit the flow of high pressure airto cylinder 60' to effect opening of the liquid control valve 194 andinitiation of the filling operation; a high pressure air line indicatedgenerally at 176 connected to the shuttle valve 1'74; and a diaphragmvalve 1'7 8 arranged to be actuated by the back pressure in the lowpressure air line 124 when the liquid in the bottle reaches a heightsuch as to block the outlet 129 of the low pressure air line whereby toeffect shifting of the shuttle valve 174 to discontinue the flow ofliquid into the bottle.

The shuttle valve 174, as illustrated in cross'section in FIG. 6, maycomprise a commercially available four-way valve, used in the presentair circuit as a three-way valve with one outlet port plugged, asindicated at 180. A .slide valve 182 having a recessed passagewaytherein and a the stem 192 is spring pressed upwardly'to press the theport 188 leading to the plugged outlet 180 is opento' at all timesthrough a clearance opening about the stem slide valve 182 into airtightcontact withthe upper surface of the pressure chamber 184.;

As seen in FIG. 7, air at high pressure, in the order of,

40 to 50-p'.s.i., is admitted to the pressure chamber 184 from the highpressure air line 176 through an inlet 1% and passageway 20%. As shownin FIG. 3, theinlet is connected by the air line 176 to an adapter 204comprising a three-way manifold having a threaded extension passingthrough a wall 205 of the housing 54 and secured, thereto by a nut 206.In the illustrated embodiment of the invention each adapter 204 is incommunication with a curved pipe 2%, as shown in FIG. 8, supplyingair toadjacent control units, and the curved pipe 268 is connected by radiallyextending pipes 212 to a central high pressure air distributing manifold214 supported above the liquid manifold as shown in FiGS. 1 and 8. Acentral upstanding flanged pipe 216 in communication with the airdistributing manifold 214 is connected by a fitting 218 permittingrotation of the pipe 216 withits manifold, and

a stationarysupply pipe 2-20 extended laterally from the fitting 218 maybe connected to a regulated source of high presseure' air. As indicatedin FIG. 8, the pipe 220 may be secured to the support 147 toprcventrotation thereof, the 'connection to the support being adapted to2 disk 50 is adjusted.

permit vertical movement of the pipe when'the supporting Returning nowto FIG. 6, when the slide valve 182 is moved to the right is uncoversport 1% to the pressure chamber 184, the port lfih being connected by apas-' sageway'224 to an L fitting 226 and flexible pipe 228 leadingt-othe upper end of the cylinder 60. Thus, in

this position the high pressure air in the chamber 184 passes throughport 190 to operate the cylinder and open the liquid control valve 194.At this time .the plugged port 186 is connected through port 188 and theslide valve 182 with port 186 which leads to an exhaust opening 230 asshown in FIG. 7. The piston 6201? the cylinder 66 is spring pressedupwardly so that when the slide valve 182 is moved to the left, asshown, to connect ports 190, 186 the air in the cylinder 60 may escapethrough the port 190 to the exhaust'open'ing so that the piston 62 maybespring returned. Simultaneously therewith, the coil spring 112associated with the valve stem 162 effects closing of the liquid controlvalve 104 to discontinue the filling operation. fromthe pressure in thechamber 184 at this time, and

the pressure in the chamber184 but does not perform any function.

The cylinder chamber 196 in which the piston 194 is moved is open to thehigh pressure air in chamber 184 192 and through a central opening 232in the piston providing an equal pressure at both ends of the piston. Inorder to shiftthe piston in the chamber the pressure on one or the otherside thereof is arranged to be reduced, as by bleeding air from the sidetoward which the piston is to be moved. f The ends of the chamber 196are connected in the circuit in a manner such as to permit bleeding ofair from the right hand side of the chamber to initiate the fillingoperation and to permit bleeding of air from the left hand side of thechamber to discontinue the filling operation. As herein shown, theright-hand side of the chamber 196 is provided with a nipple 234 whichis connected by a curved pipe 236 to a normally closed bleed valve 238supported in the upper leg of a U-shaped bracket 241 secured to the Wall205 of the housing 54.

of the chamber. 196 bya circuit including a pipe 248 The port 1% is cutofi '5. leading from the adapter 264 to the trip valve 172. The tripvalve 172 is supported in the wall 249 of the housing 54 and is providedwith an operating arm which carries a roller 256 arranged to be engagedby a relatively stationary cam piece 252 during rotation of the fillinghead and control unit through a circular path. The air is normallyblocked at the valve 172 until the valve is momentarily tripped by thecam piece 252 at which time the air is permitted to pass through pipe253 to the block 166 provided with the air escape orifice 164. When theorifice is closed by the sealing member 176 upon elevation of a bottleinto sealing position, as described, the air may pass from the block 166through pipe 254 to a fitting 256 also supported in the wall 249 of thehousing and then through a pipe 256 to the lower end of the cylinder246. Thus, in operation, when a bottle is in filling position so as toeffect closing of the orifice 164, momentary opening of the trip valve172 wiil permit a surge of air topass to the cylinder 246 to effectbleeding of air from the right hand side of chamber 196, thus efiectingmovement of the piston 124 and slide valve 182 to the right to open theport 190 to the high pressure air whereby to efiect opening of theliquid control ,valve 164 to initiate the filling operation asdescribed. However, if no bottle is present on the platform 12 theorifice 164 will remain open so that when the valve 172 is tripped noair will pass to the cylinder 246, and the slide valve 182 will not beshifted.

As illustrated in detail in FIG. 6, the passageway 264D defining theorifice 164 terminates in a slightly reduced diameter portion 262, and arelatively small diameter tube 264 extended into the reduced diameterportion 262 and terminating short of the end of the orifice forms thepassageway for the air under pressure leading to the pipe 254 and thelower end of the cylinder 246 when the orifice'is sealed. In operation,when the orifice is open, air at high pressure passing around the end ofthe small tube 264 provides an aspirator effect to draw air out of thesmall tube and the connecting pipes to the lower ,end of the cylinder246. This expedient prevents any pressure buildup in the block 166 suchas might inadvertently cause operation of the. bleed valve 238 and thusassures that the bleed valve 238 will not be operated unless the orificeis sealed. When the orifice is sealed the air under pressure will passupwardly'through the small tube 264 and the connecting pipes to thecylinder 246 to effect bleeding of the right hand side of the chamber1196 and shifting of the slide valve 182 to initiate the fillingoperation. as described.

In the illustrated embodiment of. the invention the relativelystationary cam piece 252 for momentarily opening the trip valve 172 tosupply a surge of air to the block 166 is preferably mounted to moveradially into and out of the path of the roller 256 in timed relation tothe passage of successive control units 52 during their movement in acircular path. Thus, in the event the machine comes to rest in aposition such as to present the roller 250 in engagement with the campiece to start a filling operation, the cam piece would be retracted topermit operation of the control unit 52 when a predetermined fillinglevel is reached to discontinue the filling operation. It will beunderstood that bleeding of air from both sides of the chamber 196 atonce would have no effect in moving the piston 194. Thus, the provisionof the retractable cam piece 252 serves to prevent simultaneous bleedingof air from both sides of the chamber. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 8,the cam piece 252 is carried by the armature 266 of a solenoid 268supported in an angle bracket 276 adjustably secured to a bracket 272;The bracket 272 is supported at the upper end of a post 274- which issupported at its lower end in a bracket 276 attached to the machineframe. In operation the solenoid 268 may be energized periodically by acam operated switch, not shown, to extend the cam piece 252 into thepath of the roller 256 in timed relation to the rotation of the controlunits 52.

From the description thus far, it will be seen that during thecontinuous rotation of the filling head units and their control units ina circular path, the valves 172 are successively tripped to initiate thefilling operations as described. It will also be seen that during thefilling operation air'at low pressure, in the order of two inches ofwater pressure, is continuously being discharged through the outlet 129of the low pressure air nozzle 113 into the bottle and through the openmouth of the bottle around the filling nozzle 18 to the atmosphere. Itwill be understood that the air displaced by the liquid entering thebottle will also pass through the open mouth of the bottle. When theliquid in the bottle reaches the end of the air nozzle 113 to block theescape of air therefrom, as shown in FIG. 4, provision is made forautomatically bleeding the air'from the left hand side of the chamber196 to close off the port 190 from the high pressure air in chamber 184and to connect the port 196 with the exhaust with the exhaust port 186to effect evacuation of the cylinder 69 and spring return of the piston62. As a result the liquid control valve 104 is permitted to be springreturned to its closed position to discontinue the filling-operation. Asillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6, the left hand bleed valve 280 is supportedin the lower leg of a U-shaped bracket 282 and is connected to the lefthand end of the chamber 196 by a pipe 284 and nipple 286. The U-shapedbracket 282 is at'tached'to the wall 249 of the housing 54, and theupper leg thereof supports an air cylinder 288 having a piston 2% forcooperation with the stem 292 to the bleed valve 286. The piston 29% isspring urged upwardly in a retracted position and is .arranged to beextended to effect opening of the bleed valve 280 by a momentary surgeof high pressure air to the upper end of the cylinder 288 from a pipe294. The other end of the pipe, 224 is connected to an aspirator uni-t,indicated generally at 296, which is provided with an outlet 297 open tothe atmosphere. The aspirat-or unit 296 is arranged to cooperate with aflexible diaphragm 298 forming a part of the diaphragm valve unit 178.

The flexible diaphragm 298 is supported between an outer plate 300 andan inner plate 302 attached to the housing wall 265 and having a portionextended through an opening in the wall. The inner plate 302 is providedwith air escape opening-s 363. The aspirator unit 296 includes anelongated hollow stem 304 extended into a nipple 306 threadedly engagedwith and adjustably supported in a hub portion of the inner plate 302.The nipple may be locked in its adjusted position by a lock nut 368. Thehollow stem 304 is reduced in diameter within the nipple 306 providingan annular space therebetween to which high pressure air is supplied bya pipe 309 connected to the three-way manifold 264. The outlet end ofthe nipple 306 is reduced in diameter and is provided with an innertubular sleeve 310 defining the outlet 237. The sleeve 310 extends ashort distance beyond the end of the nipple 306 for cooperation with theflexible diaphragm 298 as shown. The inner end of the hollow stem 364 isfurther provided with a small diameter central tube 312 extending partway into the outlet sleeve In operation the flexible diaphragm 2% isnormally spaced from the outlet 297 so that the high pressure air mayescape through the annular space, around the end of the tube 312, andthrough the outlet 297. The air passing through the outlet 297 mayescape through the openings 363 in the inner plate 362 to theatmosphere. The passage of air around the central tube 312'to theatmosphere has an aspirator eiTect to draw air out of the tube and theconnecting pipes to the upper end of the cylinder 288 and produces avacuum or reduced pressure in the connecting pipes. Thus, any pressurebuild-up in the *aspirator unit 296, such as might cause inadvertentoperation of the bleed valve 280, is prevented so as to assure that thebleed valve will not be operated until the outlet 297 iscloscd bymovement of tliediaphragm 29S. When 7 the outlet 237 is sealed by thediaphragm the air under a pressure will pass into the central tube 312and to the cylinder 288 to effect opening of the bleed valve 280 andmovement of the slide valve 182 to the left to discontinue .the flow ofliquid into the bottle as described.

In'practice all of the control units are preset so as to provide auniform gap between the outlet 297 and the diaphragm 298 for uniformoperation. It will be evident that the flexible diaphragm 293 will bemoved to the left to close the outlet 297 by'a build-up of low pressureair behind the diaphragm when the low pressure outlet 129 is blocked bythe liquid upon reaching the end of the low pressure nozzle 118. It willbe observed that the rear face of the diaphragm 298 is provided with ametal disk 299 having a plurality of raised portions which bear againstthe inner face ofthe outer plate Stldfor the purpose of providingclearance to freely admit air to the chamber, at the rear of thediaphragm. I I

The low pressure air line 124 connected to the pipe T 125 is carried bythe outer plate 300' of the diaphragm unit 178 and is in communicationwith the rear face of the diaphragm 298 as shownin FIG. 6. Thelowpressure airsupply pipe 127 also connected to the pipe T 125 is radiallyextendedand connected to a central low pressure air manifold 3'18disposed intermediate the high pressure air manifold 214 and theliquiddistributin-g manifold 132 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8. Similarradially extending pipes 127 are extended from the low air pressuremanifold 6 18 toadjacent controlunits 52. Low pressure air, in

; the order of two inches of water pressure, is supplied to the manifold3 18 by a pipe 320 extended from the outlet I J provided with anaspirator structure indicated generally at 33 3; and which includes arelatively small central tube '334 supported in a sleeve portion:335 atthe upper end of the T and through which the low pressure air must passinto the air line 124. The central tube 334 passes the amount depositedduring the relatively short time control valve 1124 is closed the nozzlevalve 123 carried by theair nozzle 118; and which is provided with theliquid escape openings 139, is simultaneously closed: by retraction ofthe nozzle valve into the liquid nozzle 18 to discontinue the flow ofliquidout of the nozzle 18; hits retracted position, the end of the airnozzle 118 is substantially flush with the end of the liquid nozzle 18which is disposed a substantial distance above the filling level of theliquid in the bottle as shown in FIG. 5. It will also be understood thatthe low pressure air is continuously being blown out of theoutlet129 sothat any liquid-which may have collected on the end of the air nozzle inits extended position is blown out to clear the nozzle. Also, since theair nozzle is retracted to a position above the filling level of theliquid, the continuously escaping air will not effect any disturbance ofthe liquid in the filled bottle.

It will be understood that the elevating platforms 12 have a fixedstroke so that'preliminary adjustment of the extent of the fillingnozzles 18 into the mouths of the bottles in their elevated positions toset thefilling height is effected by vertical adjustment of the rotarysupporting disk 50 which carries the filling units. opening and closingof the liquid control valves 164 of successive filling heads may beachieved by adjustment of the stroke of the spring pressed piston 62operating in the alignment of adjacent filling heads during assembly toprovide uniform opening and closing operation of successive fillingheads, or to change the stroke of the piston 62 to compensate for anyvariation in filling height between adjacentheads.

In operation, after the bottle'has been filled and the liquid controlvalve-104 has been automatically closed in response to the height of theliquid in the bottle, the elevator platform 12 is lowered away from thefilling nozzle. In the event of a failure of a bottle to receivesufiibeyond the center line of the Tand terminates within the upper endof a sleeve portion 336 at the lower end of .the T. This structureprovides an aspirator'elfectso that no pressure build-up behind thediaphragm will be effected 7 until the outlet 129 of the air nozzle 118is blocked by the liquid as described. It will be understood that whenthe liquid level in the bottle reaches the outlet 129 the backpressure-in the low pressure airline effects substantially immediate andrelativelyrapid operationof the control means to effect closing of theliquid supply valve 104 and the associated liquid nozzle valve 128.However, during the relatively short time between closing of the outlet129* and response of the control unit 52 to effect closing of the valve164 liquid is still being discharged into the bottle. Since the spacingof the. aspirator outlet 297 from the diaphragm 298 of each control unitis adjusted to provide uniformresponse of successive control units itwas found, in practice, that theamount of liquid discharged into thebottle during the time elapsed between closing of the outlet 129andresponse of the control unit is remarkably consistent 'in volume.-Asa result, the actual filling height of the liquid in the bottle may beaccurately predetermined by including such amount in the total volumedesired so that the total volume will comprise the amount of liquiddecient liquid-to reach the low pressure air outlet 12% during itscontinuous movement in a circular path or in the event of failure of thelow pressure air supply so that there will be no" pressure build-up toeffect automatic closing ofthe liquid control valve 104, provision ismade for assuring operation of the control means to effect closing ofthe'valve 104 at a point in the cycle of movement of the, bottle Whereit would normally be closed so as to prevent spilling of the liquid fromthe filling head. For this purpose the pipe 284 leading from the lefthand bleed valve 280 to the left hand end of therchamber 196 of theshuttle valve 174 is provided with a safety trip valve 338. The valve338 is mounted in the Wall 249 of the control housing and is providedwith an operating arm carrying a roller 340 which is arranged to beengaged by a stationary cam piece 342. The valve 338 is normally closed,and

no further function is performed by opening the safety valve 338.However, in the event that the liquid control valve 104 has not beenclosed at this time, opening of the safety valve will effect positiveoperation of the shuttle valve to effect such closing. As illustrated inFIG. 1,

' the stationary cam piece 342 is mounted at one end of a Uniformity. of1 is secured in a bracket 35d attached to the base 38 of the machine. a

From the above description it will be seen that the present fillingmachine provides a novel filling head unit including novel pneumaticcontrol means associated therewith and which is responsive to the heightof the liquid when it reaches a predetermined filling level todiscontinue the filling operation. It will also be observed that thepresent invention is characterized by the continuous discharge of air ata predetermined low pressure into the bottle through an outlet arrangedto be blocked by the liquid when it reaches a predetermined fillingheight to provide a positive back pressure for actuating the controlmeans in a rapid, positive and efficient manner whereby to obtainuniform filling heights in successive bottles.

The invention has been illustrated herein as embodied in a continuouslyrotating multiple head automatic filling machine. However, it will beapparent that the present filling head unit and pneumatic control meansmay be used with advantage in a single head filler or in a multiple headstraight line machine which may be of the automatic semiautomatic type.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been hereinillustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention maybe embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

'air conducting means, and control means responsive to said sensingmeans for operating said valve to discontinue the flow of liquid intothe container, said air conducting means comprising a tube extendingbelow said .nozzle outlet during the filling operation and movablesimultaneously with theoperation of said valve to present the end of thetube above said liquid level.

2. In a container filling machine, in combination, a filling head havinga liquid supply inlet and a nozzle outlet extended into the open mouthof a container to be filled, a liquid control valve in said fillinghead, air

conducting means terminating in an outlet at a predetermined levelwithin the container, said air conducting means being arranged todischarge air continuously at a relatively low pressure into thecontainer, said outlet being blocked by the liquid when it reaches saidpredetermined level to create a back pressure in the air conductingmeans, and control means responsive to said back pressure for operatingsaid valve to discontinue the fiowof liquid into the container, said airconducting means comprising a tube extending a substantial distancebelow said nozzle outlet during the filling operation and movable withsaid valve to present the end of the tube to a position substantiallyflush with said nozzle outlet and above the liquid level when the liquidreaches said predetermined level.

3. The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein the 'air dischargedinto the container together with the air displaced by the liquid duringthe filling operation may escape through the open mouth of the bottle.

4. The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein the control means ispneumatically operated, and which includes a diaphragm valve associatedwith said air conducting means and operated by said back pressure foractuating said pneumatically operated control means to efiect closing ofthe liquid control valve and lifting of said air tube when saidpredetermined level is reached.

5. In a container filling machine, in combination, a filling head havinga liquid supply inlet and an outlet nozzle extended into the open mouthof a container to be filled, a liquid control valve in said fillinghead, air

- conducting means comprising a tube terminating in an outlet at apredetermined level within the container and extending a substantialdistance below the end of said outlet nozzle during the fillingoperation, said air conducting means being arranged to discharge aircontinuously at a relatively low pressure into the container, said lowpressure outlet being blocked by the liquid when it reaches saidpredetermined level to create a back pressure in the air conductingmeans, and pneumatically operated control means responsive to said backpressure for operating said valve to discontinue the flow of liquid intothe container, said air tube being movable to a position to present theair outlet at a position above the liquid level and substantially flushwith the end of said outlet nozzle when said predetermined liquid levelis reached, said pneumatically operated control means including a highpressure air circuit having an outlet through which air may escapeto'the atmosphere during the filling operation, and a diaphragm valveassociated with said 'low pressure air conducting means, and arranged tobe operated by said back pressure to close said high pressure outletwhereby to render the control means operative to efiect closing of thevalve when the liquid reaches said predetermined level.

6. The combination as defined in claim 5 wherein said high pressureoutlet is provided with an aspirator to prevent a build-up of pressurein the circuit until the diaphragm is operated to close said outlet.

7. The combination as defined in claim 5' wherein the low pressure airconducting means is provided with an aspirator adjacent said diaphragmvalve whereby to prevent a build-up of pressure in said air conductingmeans until said low pressure outlet is blocked by the liquid.

8. The combination as defined in claim 5 wherein the liquid controlvalve is vertically movable in the filling head and is spring pressedinto its closed position, and wherein the pneumatically operated controlmeans includes an air cylinder in said circuit having a piston arrangedto depress said liquid control valve to open the same.

9. The combination as defined in claimS wherein the liquid control valveis vertically movable in the filling head and is spring pressed into itsclosed position, and wherein the pneumatically operated control meansincludes an air cylinder in said circuit having a piston arranged todepress said liquid control valve to open the same, said air circuitalso including a trip valve arranged to be momentarily opened to actuatethe control means to initiate the filling operation.

10. The combination as defined in claim 9 wherein the trip valve isactuated by a solenoid operated member movable periodically into and outof tripping relation to said valve to effect momentary actuation thereof for initiating the filling operation, said solenoid operated memberbeing immediately retracted to permit operation of the air circuit todiscontinue the filling operation where said predetermined filling levelis reached.

. 11. The combination as defined in claim 9v wherein the air circuitincludes a shuttle valve associated with said air cylinder and arrangedto be shifted in one direction when the trip valve is momentarilyactuated to permit air to flow to said cylinder to initiate the fillingoperation, said shuttle valve being arranged to be shifted in -theopposite direction when the high pressure outlet is vent a build-up'ofpressure in theair circuit when no container is present.

14. A container filling machine as defined in claim 11 which operates incycles, and wherein a safety trip ,valve is provided in said air circuitarranged to effect shifting of said shuttle valve to discontinue thefilling operation at a predetermined time in the machine cycle in theevent that the liquid fails to reach a level in the container such as toblock saidlow pressure outlet to elfect said shifting prior to suchpredetermined time.

15. The combination-asdefined in claim 11 wherein the shuttle, valve isprovided with a-piston movable in a cylinder chamberhaving equalpressure onboth sides thereof, means actuated by operation of said tripvalve for bleeding air from one side of said chamber to etfect movementof the shuttle valve in one direction to initiate the filling'operation,and similar means actuated by closing of said high pressure air outletby said diaphragm valve for bleedingair fromjthe other side of thechamber to effect movement 'ofithe shuttle valve in the oppositedirection to discontinue the filling operation. g

.16. In a container filling machine, in combination, a filling headhaving a liquid supply inlet and an outlet nozzle extended into the openmouth of the container to be filled, a vertically movable liquidycontrolvalve mounted in said filling head, air conducting means including anair nozzle carried by and movable with said liquid con'trolvalve andextended through the center of saidiliquid nozzle, said air nozzleterminating in an outlet disposedbeyond theend of the liquid nozzle andat'a predetermined level within the containerwhenithe valve is open,said air conducting means being'arranged to discharge. air continuouslyat a relatively lowapressure into'the container, said outlet beingblocked by the liquid when it reaches said predetermined level to createa back pressure in said air conducting means, and control meansresponsive to said back pressure for simultaneously moving said liquidcontrol valve and said air nozzle upwardly to close the valve anddiscontinue'the' flow of liquid into the container.

, .17. The combination as defined in claim '16 wherein the verticallymovable liquidcontrol valve is provided with astem portion and saidairconducting means includes a passageway through said's tem portion incommunication with said central airnozzle.

18.'Thecombination as defined in claim 16 wherein the outlet end of thecentral verticallymovable air nozzle 7 is provided with: an upstandingtubular portion surrounding the same and telescopically movable in theend of the liquid nozzle, said tubular. portion defining an I annularspace in communicatiorrwith the liquid and having a plurality ofliquidescape openings through which the liquid flows from the nozzle into thecontainer when .the valve is open, said openings being closed by thenozzle walls when the tubular portion is moved upwardly into said liquidnozzle. v I

19. The combination as defined in claim 18 wherein the liquid escapingfrom the nozzle after blocking of said low pressure air outlet. andbefore closing of the liquid control valve is substantially constant involume for successive filling operations to provide uniform filling l4is provided with a resilient ring cooperating with the walls of saidchamber and arranged to create a suction in theliquid nozzle'when thevalve is moved upwardly into itsclosed position to hold in suspensionthe liquid remaining in the nozzle when the filling operation iscompleted.

Y 23. The combination as defined in claim 18 wherein provision is madefor elevating the container into and out of filling position withrelation to the filling nozzle.

" 24. The combination in a liquid filling machine having a filling headprovided with a nozzle extended into the container, and a liquid controlvalve carried by the filling head, the improvement comprising airconducting means having an outlet disposed at a predetermined level inthe container for directing said under pressure into the container, andcontrol means forclosing said valve to discontinue the filling operationresponsive to the back pressure created in said air, conducting meanswhen the liquid reaches said predetermined level to block the escape ofair from the outlet and for simultaneously elevatin'g said airconducting means above said level to prevent foaming of the liquid inthe filled container.

25/111 a container filling machine, in combination, a filling headhaving a liquid supply inlet and an outlet nozzle extended into the openmouth of the container to befilled, a vertically movable liquid controlvalve mounted in said filling head, air conducting means including foroperating saidvalve to discontinuethe flow of liquid,

into the container, said pneumatically operated control means includinga high pressure air circuit having an outlet through which air mayescape to the atmosphere during the filling operation, and a diaphragmvalve as sociated, with said air conducting means and arranged to beoperated by said back pressure to close said high pressureoutlet-whereby to actuate said control means to permit upward movementof said liquid control valve and said air noz'zle'to close the valve,and to remove the 7 air nozzle from the liquid to prevent foaming of thesame in the filled container. 7

26. In a rotary filling machine, in combination, a plurality of fillingheads movable in a circular path, a plurality of container elevatingmembers movable in alignment with the filling heads and arranged toelevate successive containers into operative filling relation to thefilling heads, each filling head having a liquid. supply inlet and anoutlet nozzle, a liquid control valve in said filling head, airconducting means extending through the nozzle and terminating in anoutlet at a predetermined level within the container, said airconducting means being arranged to discharge air at a relatively lowpressure into the container, said outlet being blocked by the liquidwhen it reaches said predetermined level to create a back pressure inthe air conducting means, and pneumatically op eratedfcontrol meansresponsive to said back pressure foroperating said valve to discontinuethe fiow of liquid into the container, said air conducting meanscomprising -atube extending a substantial distance below the end of saidoutlet nozzle during the filling operation and movthe outlet endsubstantially flush with the end of the filling nozzle when the valve isclosed.

22. The combination as defined in claim =18 wherein V the filling headis provided witha chamber and the valve able with said valve to presentthe end of the air tube to a position substantially flush with the endof said outlet nozzle when the liquid reaches said predetermined aircircuit having a trip valve carried by each filling head, and meansmovable into and out of tripping relation cooperating with the tripvalve to effect initiation of the filling operation, said movable meansbeing immediately retracted to permit subsequent operation of the aircircuit to discontinue the filling operation when said predeterminedfilling level is reached in the event that the machine comes to restWith a filling head in operative relation to said movable trippingmeans;

28. The combination as defined in claim 27 wherein the 10 tive fillingrelation.

29. The method of controlling a liquid filling operation which includesthe steps of opening a valve to permit the flow of liquid into acontainer, directing air under ,a relatively low pressure into thecontainer through an outlet disposed at a predetermined filling level,blocking the escape of air through the outlet by the liquid when itreaches said predetermined level to create a back pressure for closingsaid valve to discontinue the filling operation, and elevating said airoutlet above said predetermined level simultaneously with the closing ofthe valve to prevent tubulence of the liquid in the filled container.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 552,240 12/95Dyer 141-298 1,700,494 1/29 Harrington 141137 X 2,028,092 1/ 36 Kantor14130v3 X 2,126,847 8/38 Weiss 14141 2,126,848 8/38 Weiss 141-4 12,402,036 6/46 Giger 141225 2,745,585 5/56 Lindars 14 140 2,915,07812/59 Oehs -2 137-85 3,021,865 I 2/62 Beckett 137-82 FOREIGN PATENTS515,003 7/55 Canada.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

,UNITED sTATEsi PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,182,691 May 11, 1965 Robert W. Ver gobbi et a1. It is hereby certifiedthat error a ppears in the above numbered patent reqiiring correctionand that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 8, line 21, strike out "with the exhaust"; column 14, line 15,for "said" read air column 16, line 5, for "tubulence" read turbulenceSigned and sealed this 16th day of November 1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Allesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. IN A CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE, IN COMBINATION, A FILLING HEAD HAVINGA LIQUID SUPPLY INLET AND A NOZZLE OUTLET, A LIQUID CONTROL VALVE INSAID FILLING HEAD, MEANS FOR CONDUCTING AIR UNDER PRESSURE INTO THECONTAINER ARRANGED TO SENSE THE HEIGHT OF THE LIQUID WHEN IT REACHES APREDETERMINED LEVEL SUCH AS TO CUT OF THE FLOW OF AIR INTO THE CONTAINERAND TO CREATE A BACK PRESSURE IN THE AIR CONDUCTING MEANS, AND CONTROLMEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID SENSING MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID VALVE TODISCONTINUE THE FLOW OF LIQUID INTO THE CONTAINER, SAID AIR CONDUCTINGMEANS COMPRISING A TUBE EXTENDING BELOW SAID NOZZLE OUTLET DURING THEFILLING OPERATION AND MOVABLE SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE OPERATION TO SAIDVALVE TO PRESENT THE END OF THE TUBE ABOVE SAID LIQUID LEVEL.